46 criminal sanctions The participation of prison officers in the distribution of medicines • Prison officers participated in the medical treatment of prisoners by distributing medicines. During the weekends, opioid substitution treatment medicines were distributed by criminal sanctions supervisors. Prison officers have received two different types of training in medicine distribution. The new prison officer training curriculum includes a separate module on medicine distribution, which corresponds to the training prescribed in the THL guidelines on safe medication practices in cases when medicines are dispensed by a person other than a health-care professional. Those who have not been trained under the new curriculum can complete an online training module on medicine distribution, but the module does not, in all respects, meet the criteria laid down in the THL guidelines. It also became apparent during the visit that there were prison officers working at the prison who had undergone neither of the training courses. The Deputy-Ombudsman stressed that the training and guidance on medicine distribution is not only necessary for patient safety but also for the employee’s legal protection and occupational health and safety. Every member of staff participating in the provision of medical treatment is always personally liable for their actions, even if the overall responsibility for a patient is with the attending physician. The Deputy-Ombudsman stated that it was not possible, even following additional clarification, to determine whether or not the medicine distribution training for criminal sanctions supervisors meets the criteria for the training required for opioid substitution treatment, according to the THL guidelines on safe medication practices. Information obtained during the visits, and from incident reports illustrating how the guards distribute medicines in practice, left the impression that more attention should be paid to medicine distribution guidelines and training. The Deputy-Ombudsman stressed that the shortcomings in the training were, however, such that they do not only concern the prison in question, but probably the majority of prisons in Finland. Mikkeli Prison • The follow-up visit to Mikkeli Prison was conducted in order to review the measures taken to implement the Deputy-Ombudsman’s recommendations and to identify areas that require further development. During the visit, the operations of the Criminal Sanctions Regional Centre for Eastern and Northern Finland were reviewed from the perspective of legality oversight. The Deputy Ombudsman stated that the Regional Centre had neglected its duty to oversee the legality of the prison operations. The Deputy Ombudsman stressed that the Regional Centre must step up its legality oversight activities and provide the legal guidance and support required by the prison management.